Method and device for processing carcasses of livestock along the spine

ABSTRACT

A method for processing carcasses of livestock, comprises the processing steps of: positioning a hanging livestock carcass; making an incision along the spine of the positioned hanging livestock carcass; loosening the meat from opposite sides of the feather bones of the spine; and splitting the spine of the carcass. A device for processing carcasses of livestock is arranged for enabling the process steps.

The invention relates to a method for processing carcasses of livestock,comprising the processing steps of: positioning a hanging livestockcarcass; making an incision along the spine of the positioned hanginglivestock carcass; loosening the meat from opposite sides of the featherbones of the spine; and splitting the spine of the carcass. Theinvention also provides a device for processing carcasses of livestockenabling these process steps.

Livestock carcasses, especially pigs carcasses, are usually processed inslaughter lines in which the carcasses (or carcass parts) for processingare carried past a plurality of processing stations, normallytransported hanging on their hind legs. The processing stations may bemanned by personnel performing determined processes, but often severaldressing operations are mechanised. In the prior art use is for instancemade of robot arms that perform specific dressing processesautomatically. One of the dressing processes is the introduction of acut along the spine (back bone) of the carcass and subsequently cuttingthe meat from opposite sides of the feather bones of the spine, whichcombined cutting steps are also known as “back finning”. Back finning isa processing step that is also addressed as the pre-cutting of loins.After “back finning” the spine of the carcass may be split to separatethe carcass in halves. Dependent on slaughter demands these carcasshalve may still be connected via the head or may completely parted.

The present invention has for its object to enhance the efficiency andeffectivity of dressing livestock carcasses especially in relation toprocessing carcasses of livestock along the spine including the backfinning and spine separation process steps.

The present invention provides for this purpose a method for processingcarcasses of livestock, comprising the processing steps of: positioninga hanging livestock carcass (A); making an incision along the spine ofthe positioned hanging livestock carcass (B); loosening the meat fromopposite sides of the feather bones of the spine (C); and splitting thespine of the carcass (D); wherein, the three processing steps, making anincision along the spine, loosening the meat from opposite sides of thefeather bones, and, splitting the spine of the carcass, are performedduring a single processing cycle and onto a single individual carcass.The first incision is made in/through the skin with a depth such thatthe upper part of the feather bones (“spinous process”) is approximatelyreached. With a subsequent dual cut at least a part the feather bones(the protruding portion of the “vertebrae”) is made free. This cutpreferably has a length such that it is at least reaching from thepelvic bone to the blade bone. The at least partially freeing thefeather bones (the “back finning”) is a step in the (pre-)cutting ofloins. With the third separating action (D), splitting the spine of thecarcass, the spine is divided over the length, for instance by sawing orchiselling. The present invention now enables to performe the threeseparating processing steps (B, C, D), making an incision along thespine, loosening the meat from opposite sides of the feather bones, and,splitting the spine of the carcass, during a single processing cycle andonto a single individual carcass. The combination of these threeseparating processing steps (B, C, D) in a single processing cycle andonto one and the same carcass has several advantages. The combination ofthe separating processing steps (B, C, D) leads to a limitation of spacerequired to perform the processing steps. In other words; the floorspace (“foot print”) for locating the specified processing steps in acarcass processing plant in the prior art situation of subsequentprocessing steps acting on succeeding (adjoining) carcasses is farlarger than the floor space for locating the specified processing stepsaccording the present invention. A limitation in required floor spacefor the processing has direct and visible advantages in theaccommodation costs but also simplifies the operator control of theprocessing steps. A further advantage of the combination of these threeseparating processing steps (B, C, D) is that the stabilisation of therequired carcass for processing in the three separating processing steps(B, C, D) may be combined. Only a single stabilisation for all the threeprocessing steps is sufficient, or even such a single stabilisation issuperfluous if and when the forces acting on the carcass in thesituation of combined/overlapping separating processing steps (B, C, D)are neutralizing each other.

In a first separation step a central cut is arranged, in which cut twoacting feather bone knives cut along the opposite sides of theprotruding portions of the feather bones. The spine, preferably with theprotruding portions of the feather bones cleared, is also to beseparated. Both the three separating processing steps (B, C, D) may evenbeen enabled with a single stroke of one or two manipulators. This notonly limits the required floor space and simplifies the stabilisation ofthe carcass, it may also reduce the cycle time to the carcassprocessing. The present invention thus enhances the efficiency andeffectivity of the carcass dressing process.

The positioning of a hanging livestock carcass according processing step(A) may include the collection of information relating the position andgeometry of an individual carcass, which position and geometryinformation may be used for controlling performing at least one of thethree separating processing steps (B, C, D) onto that single individualcarcass. The single information collection on the position of thecarcass may thus have multiple use; all the three separation processingsteps (B, C, D) may be controlled on the basis of the single informationcollection. This is not only efficient; it will also enhance theprocessing accuracy as the processing separating processing steps (B, C,D) are fully synchronised and are not—according the prior art—dependentfrom subsequently (independent) acquired position and geometryinformation. The position and geometry information collection mayinclude various types of data collection, like for instance mechanicaland/or visual data collection.

At least one of the processing steps; of making an incision along thespine (B), loosening the meat from opposite sides of the feather bonesof the spine (C), and of splitting the spine of the carcass (D), may beindependent steerable of the other processing steps. The spine incision,the feather bones loosening and/or the spine splitting may, althoughperformed during a single processing cycle and onto a single individualcarcass, be controlled independently. The regulation of the individualseparating processes (B, C, D) (for instance for the location to startand stop, for the route, for the depth and/or for the speed) may beindependently regulated/controlled to optimise the individual separatingprocesses. However for the sake of efficiency and effectivity theseparating processing steps (B, C, D) are preferable controlled by asingle control unit. Not only the use of a single control unit haseconomic advantages, it also is beneficial in relation to the mutualcoordination of the separating processing steps (B, C, D).

The hanging livestock carcass may be positioned by urging at least oneabutment against the carcass, preferably against the breast side and/orthe backside of the spine. As the separating processes (B, C, D) willexert forces on the carcass these forces have—at least in the horizontalplane—to be compensated. In the vertical direction a downward force maybe compensated by the suspension of the carcass (normally a hook/hangersseizing the hind legs of the carcass). To prevent that due to the actingof at least one of the separating processes (B, C, D) the hangingcarcass is “pushed away” an abutment, e.g. acting the breast side and/orthe back side of the spine, may prevent the carcass to move inhorizontal direction. A better control in the positioning of the carcasswill have a positive influence on the accuracy of the individualoperations. The additional advantage of such carcass abutment is thatthis abutment facilitates the positioning of the separating processingequipment relative to the carcass. The at least one abutment (e.g. thebreast side abutment and/or the back abutment) may be controlled by thesingle control unit. Such combined control is supportive in simple andeffective orientation of the abutment(s). For accurate processingcarcasses (with differing dimensions) the method may also includeautomatic detection of carcass properties.

The invention also provides a device for processing carcasses oflivestock, comprising a single control unit for: steering a first toolmaking an incision along the spine of a positioned hanging livestockcarcass, for steering a second tool loosening the meat from oppositesides of the feather bones of the spine, and for steering a third toolfor splitting the spine of the carcass, are connected to the singlecontrol unit. The first spine incision tool, the second feather bonesloosening tool and the third spine splitting tool may be included in asingle work station for operating onto a single carcass. With such adevice the advantages as already mentioned in relation to the methodaccording to the present invention—which advantages are hereincorporated by reference in relation to the device according to thepresent invention—may be realised. To enable easy positioning of thetools, to facilitate easy removal of the tools and to optimise theseparating processes the tools may be moveable relative to each other,as well as that the tools uses in an individual separating process (likefor instance dual feather bone knives acting on opposite sides of the“spinous process”) may be moveable relative to each other as to optimisethe individual tool actions while still a single control unit steers allthese tools. Especially when plural tools are included in a single workstation a mutual synchronisation of the tools is even more required toprevent the tools contacting each other.

The first tool making an incision along the spine, the second tool forloosening the meat from opposite sides of the feather bones of the spineand the third tool for splitting the spine of the carcass are preferablymoveable relative to each other to optimise the individual process andto enable to act the tools (within boundaries) independent form eachother. The spine splitting tool may be a chisel—for separation of thespine with only minimal contamination of the carcass—or a (e.g.rotatable) saw.

The device may comprise at least one controlled moveable abutment forcontacting the carcass, which abutment control is connected to thesingle control unit. It is possible to make the abutment moveable tomove along with the carcasses and/or to move an abutment into the breastopenings of the carcasses to abut from the breast side and/or the backside to the spine of the carcasses. Another option (as an alternative orin combination with one or more abutments as mentioned before) is toprovide the separating tools with one or more abutments, e.g. anabutment roll that follows the back of the carcass to position a toolrelative to the carcass. The device may also be provided with a abutmentthat is to be brought into the breast opening via a partially splitspine to exert a pressure from the breast opening onto the spine. Inthat situation the abutment may be carried by a manipulator, such thatthe abutment is moveable into the thoracic cavity. Alternatively oradditionally the device may also comprise a stationary abutment, e.g.for preventing the carcasses to swing during the separating processes.The abutment(s) may be included in the single work station.

The first spine incision tool, the second feather bones loosening tooland the third spine splitting tool all included in a single work stationmay be operated by at least one or more robot arms as robot arms enablegreat freedom of movement and are relative simple to be bought as “ofthe shelf” operating systems.

The present invention will be further elucidated on the basis of thenon-limitative exemplary embodiments shown in the following figures.Herein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic cut-away view of hanging pig carcass;

FIG. 2 is the schematic cut-away hanging pig carcass from FIG. 1 withthe carcass processing device according to the present invention;

FIGS. 3A and 3B show two detailed perspective views on a combination ofa first tool making an incision along the spine of a positioned hanginglivestock carcass, a second tool loosening the meat from opposite sidesof the feather bones of the spine, and a third tool for splitting thespine of the carcass; and

FIGS. 4A-4H represent subsequent phases in the method for processingcarcasses of livestock according to the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows a pigs carcass 1 hanging on a carcass transportation hook 2that connects to the hind legs 3 of the carcass 1. Part of the spine orback bone 4 (“vertebrae”) are the feather bones 5 (“spinous process”).

In FIG. 2 the carcass 1 is shown now including a manipulator 6 (here arobot arm) that carries a tool holder 7 including an abutment roller 8that rests against the (external) back 9 of the carcass 1. The toolholder 7 also carries a first tool for making an incision along thespine 10 (here a circular spine incision knife) that opens the back 9 ofthe carcass 1. The spine incision tool 10 may be embodied as a drivenrotating knife. Subsequently the tool holder 7 also carries a secondtool for loosening the meat from opposite sides of the feather bones(here feather bone knives) 11 that cut along opposite sides of theprotruding portions 12 of the feather bones 5. The manipulator 6furthermore carries a third tool for splitting the spine of the carcass13, here embodied as a bone separating rotating knife. The figure alsoshows an abutment 14 with a abutment roller 15, which abutment roller 15is placed into the breast opening 16 of the carcass 1 such that itexerts a pressure from the inside of the carcass 1 to the spine 4,preventing the carcass 1 to move due to the pressure exerted by theabutment roller 8, the first tool for making an incision along the spine10, the second tool for loosening the meat from opposite sides of thefeather bones 11 and/or the third tool for splitting the spine of thecarcass 13. The abutment roller 15 is placed into the breast opening 16with a second manipulator 17. All separating tools (10, 11, 13) andabutments (8, 15) act onto the same single carcass 1 and the movementsand operation of all separating tools (10, 11, 13) and abutments (8, 15)are controlled by a single control unit 18.

FIGS. 3A and 3B both show a tool holder 20 holding a spine incisionknife 21 (the first tool for making an incision along the spine) and twofeather bone knives 22 (the second tool for loosening the meat fromopposite sides of the feather bones) as well as a bone separator 24 (thethird tool for splitting the spine of the carcass). The tool holder 20also carries an abutment roller 23. In FIG. 3A the feather bone knives22 are placed on a distance D₁ of each other. This distanced position isfor instance used during the introduction of the feather bone knives 22into a carcass and/or during cleaning the feather bone knives 22. InFIG. 3B the feather bone knives 22′ are urged more towards each othersuch that they press onto a protruding portion 27 of a feather bone 26;the distance D₂ in the situation represented in FIG. 3B is smaller thanthe distance D₁ as represented in FIG. 3A. The bone separator 24 ismoveable relative to the tool holder 20 to enable activation andpositioning of the bone separator 24 independent of the position of thespine incision knife 21 and the feather bone knives 22. In FIG. 3B thebone separator 24′ is swivelled to an inactive position away from acarcass. The individual and relative movements of all these tools andabutments; the spine incision knife 21, the feather bone knives 22, theabutment roller 23 and the bone separator 24 are controlled by a singlecontrol unit 25 and—as these tools 21, 22, 24 and abutment 23 are alljoined onto a single tool holder 20 and connected to the single controlunit 25, the tools 21, 22, 24 and the abutment 23 are integrated in asingle work station for operating onto a single carcass.

FIGS. 4A-4H represent subsequent phases of the processing according themethod of the present invention, wherein in FIG. 4A a tool holder 30with a abutment roller 31 is placed at a higher location against theback of a hanging carcass 32. A circular spine incision knife 33, thatis also carried by the tool holder 30, is penetrating in the back of acarcass but only to a limited depth. A feather bone knife 34, alsocarried by the tool holder 30, is pivoted to a non-active position, andis thus not penetrating the carcass 32. To prevent the carcass 32 to bepushed away by the force the abutment roller 31 and the spine incisionknife 33 exert on the carcass 32 a counter-abutment 35 is urged throughan opening in the front side of the carcass 32 against the spine of thecarcass 32. Furthermore a carcass splitting rotational knife 37 is alsointroduced into the front side of the carcass 32, here at the height ofthe pelvic bone (hip bone).

In FIG. 4B the tool holder 30, as well as the counter-abutment 35 andthe carcass splitting knife 37 are moved further in the direction of thecarcass head 38 (downward) resulting in the cutting process of the spineincision knife 33 and the carcass splitting knife 37 further proceeds inthe direction of the head of the carcass 32. Different from thesituation as depicted in FIG. 4A now in FIG. 4B also the feather boneknife 34 is starting to penetrate the back of the carcass 32. The startof the cutting process of the feather bone knife 34 is initiated byrotating the feather bone knife 34 relative to the spine incision knife33, however in FIG. 4B the spine incision knife 33 is not in theposition yet) in that is loosens the protruding portions of the featherbones. In the subsequent FIGS. 4C-4G

the tool holder 30, the counter-abutment 35 and the carcass splittingknife 37 are moved step by step further in the direction of the carcasshead 38. Clearly visible is that the feather bone knife 34 is rotateddeeper and deeper into the back of the carcass 32. Due to the fact thatthe protruding parts of the feather bones (see 12 and 5 in FIG. 2)become larger closer to the head 38 of the carcass 32. For maximisingthe meat harvest the feather bone knives 34 will thus also have toprotrude deeper into the carcass while moving downward along the carcass32.The counter-abutment 35 is moved more and more outward the breast ofthe carcass as the counter-abutment 35 follows the internal contour ofthe back bone. Clearly visible in the FIGS. 4C-4G is that the relative(rotational) position of the spine incision knife 33 and the featherbone knife 34 changes during the progression the opening of the back ofthe carcass 32.

In FIG. 4H the cutting process is along the spine is finalised and thetool holder 30 is moved away from the carcass 32. In the representedsituation the feather bone knife 34 is rotated away from the carcass aswell bringing the relative position of the spine incision knife 33 andthe he feather bone knife 34 in conformity with the start position asrepresented in FIG. 4A again. The counter-abutment 35 and the carcasssplitting knife 37 are finalising their acting on the carcass 32 here.Dependent on the end result to be achieved the carcass splitting knife37 may cut, or may not cut, the head 38 of the carcass 32. For a newcutting cycle (on a new carcass 32) the tool holder 30 has to be movedupward again, however normally in between cutting cycles the knives 33,34, 37 normally are cleaned to prevent cross-contamination. All theprocessing steps as described in relation to the FIGS. 4A-4H arecontrolled with a single processing unit (not shown in these figures)and as all the equipment is combined in a single work station it is alsoclear, and depicted that all the processing steps as described inrelation to the FIGS. 4A-4H are operating in a single processing cycleonto one single carcass 32.

1.-14. (canceled)
 15. A method for processing carcasses of livestock,comprising the processing steps of: A) positioning a hanging livestockcarcass; B) making an incision along the spine of the positioned hanginglivestock carcass; C) loosening the meat from opposite sides of thefeather bones of the spine; and D) splitting the spine of the carcass;wherein, the three processing steps B), making an incision along thespine, C), loosening the meat from opposite sides of the feather bones,and D), splitting the spine of the carcass, are performed during asingle processing cycle and onto a single individual carcass.
 16. Themethod for processing carcasses of livestock, according to claim 15,wherein positioning a hanging livestock carcass according processingstep A) includes the collection of information of the position andgeometry of an individual carcass, which position and geometryinformation is used for controlling performing at least one of the threeprocessing steps B), C) and D) onto that single individual carcass. 17.The method for processing carcasses of livestock, according to claim 16,wherein the position and geometry information collection includesmechanical and/or visual data collection.
 18. The method for processingcarcasses of livestock, according to claim 15, wherein at least one ofthe processing steps; B) of making an incision along the spine, C) ofloosening the meat from opposite sides of the feather bones of thespine, and D) of splitting the spine of the carcass, is independentsteerable of the other processing steps.
 19. The method for processingcarcasses of livestock, according to claim 15, wherein the processingsteps B), C), and D) are controlled by a single control unit.
 20. Themethod for processing carcasses of livestock, according to claim 15,wherein the hanging livestock carcass is positioned by urging at leastone abutment against the carcass, preferably against the breast sideand/or the backside of the spine.
 21. The method for processingcarcasses of livestock, according to claim 19, wherein the movement ofat least one abutment is also controlled by the single control unit. 22.A device for processing carcasses of livestock, comprising a singlecontrol unit for: steering a first tool making an incision along thespine of a positioned hanging livestock carcass, for steering a secondtool loosening the meat from opposite sides of the feather bones of thespine, and for steering a third tool for splitting the spine of thecarcass, are connected to the single control unit.
 23. The device forprocessing carcasses of livestock, according to claim 22, wherein thefirst spine incision tool, the second feather bones loosening tool andthe third spine splitting tool are included in a single work station foroperating onto a single carcass.
 24. The device for processing carcassesof livestock, according to claim 22, wherein the first spine incisiontool, the second feather bones loosening tool and the third spinesplitting tool are moveable relative to each other.
 25. The device forprocessing carcasses of livestock, according to claim 22, wherein thedevice comprises at least one controlled moveable abutment forcontacting the carcass, which abutment control is connected to thesingle control unit.
 26. The device for processing carcasses oflivestock, according to claim 23, wherein also the abutment is includedin the single work station.
 27. The device for processing carcasses oflivestock, according to claim 25, wherein at least one abutment ismoveable into the thoracic cavity.
 28. The device for processingcarcasses of livestock, according to claim 22, wherein the first spineincision tool, the second feather bones loosening tool and the thirdspine splitting tool are operated by at least one robot arm.